Morning Devotional Text from the Bible

Processing Loss During COVID19

One day David asked, “Is anyone in Saul’s family still alive—anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 Samuel 9:1 NLT

King David’s best friend was Jonathan the previous King’s son. King Saul and Jonathan along with 2 other brothers all died in battle against the Philistines. Saul’s final son was killed during the transition of power by zealous men who were later executed for shedding innocent blood. Many years later, King David is still working through his pain and grief of loss. He could not change things and gain back those friendships, but he could move forward.

This COVID19 crisis has and is changing governments and people worldwide. Future plans and values have been hijacked. The degree of loss is different for each individual, but the stages of grief are still present. Remembering the stages can give you permission to understand your feelings and help you to continue to move forward.

Some will have lost family members. Some will lose their jobs. Some will lose their companies and businesses that they worked for years to establish. Some will lose trust in people to help them and become very cynical. Medical workers and first responders are engaging in loss and the trauma of people at an accelerated scale. Lose is real, frustrating, and unfair.

Most loss happens to you without any control or input from you. Loss doesn’t mean everything will continue to get worse, although we are still don’t know the full extent of our loss, because we are at the beginning of the impact of this crisis. Loss is here and it is happening. To express your frustration is a needed step in dealing with your pain.

Can you identify where you are in the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance? Can you hear the words from others that reflect how they are trying to process the loss of relational contact because of social distancing? How does not gathering physically for church services impact your social and emotional life? God created us and directed us to work, how does not being able to go to work make you feel?

When Abner, King Saul’s chief advisor and general, was killed, David wept, fasted and prayed. It is appropriate to lament. Verbalize to God the pain that you feel about the loss you are experiencing. God can handle the conversation. He draws near to the brokenhearted. Will you give yourself permission to mourn?

During your loss it is important to remember those things that never change: God’s word and the souls of men. His word states that the church will endure, even if the gates of hell march against it. His word declares that nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:31-39).Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? Romans 8:35. Jesus’ goodness is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.

As Christians we have to work through our own pain, but we have another task that remains for us to fulfill, the Great Commission. Jesus said that He now has all authority, and His command is that we “Go and make disciples”. We continue to seek and share the love of God with those who are hurting and confused. There is someone in your sphere of influence who needs pursuing. Will you go?

Maybe because of the loss we are feeling our going to share the love of Christ is more of a crawl than a walk. It is important to remember that there are people that need the message of life that we Christians possess. Be vulnerable to share your own struggles and fears, while pointing to Jesus as the answer to our need. The fields are still white unto harvest, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers. Pray for this fulfillment and be one of the workers, even with the scars of your own pain.

Blessings Love y’all

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Published by Trulifeworks

I love serving the Lord Jesus in ministry for over 30 years. My wife, Pam and I have six children (4 are married). We also have 4 grandchildren. My children encourage me to continue to tell stories and share insights to encourage others. So I write daily text and I am working on several book ideas from children's literature to devotional material.
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